HRW Requests that Saudi Authorities end Trial of Abu al-Khair

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – The international human rights group, Human Rights Watch, has urged Saudi Arabian authorities to end the prosecution of Walid Abu al-Khair. Abu al-Khair is a human rights lawyer who Human Rights Watch believes is being unfairly treated for his exercise of free speech. Abu al-Khair faces charges of “offending the judiciary,” “attempting to distort the reputation of the kingdom,” “obstructing justice,” and “trying to mislead the course of an investigation.”

Abu al-Khair is one of many human rights defenders who are being harassed by charges in Saudi Arabia. (Photo Courtesy of Gulf Center for Human Rights)

The trials of Abu al-Khair began in September 2011 after Abu al-Khair criticized the decision of a Saudi judge in connection with a client he was advocating for. The client was Samar Badawi who had been ordered to prison by Judge Abdullah al-`Othaim for “disobeying” her father. Abu al-Khair showed that the father had been abusing Badawi and that she should be transfered to a different male guardian to which the Jeddah Public Court agreed. Nevetheless, Badawi remained imprisoned for at least three more months.

Much of the evidence against Abu al-Khair has been kept from his eyes. Such evidence includes statements by Judge al-`Othaim alleging unethical conduct by Abu al-Khair during the Badawi trial.

Middle East director at Human Rights Watch Sarah Leah Whitson stated that, “The Saudi government’s prosecution of Abu al-Khair is doing far more to ‘distort’ the reputation of the kingdom than anything he has said or written.” Whitson added, “if Saudi authorities are truly concerned with the reputation of their judiciary, they should stop prosecuting lawyers who criticize the legal system’s failings.”

Currently, Abu al-Khair has been barred from traveling abroad. Other human rights defenders in similar situations to al-Khair in Saudi Arabia include Mohammed al-Bajadi, Dr. Mohammed al-Qahtani, Dr. Abdullah al-Hamid, Mikhlif al-Shammari, and Dr. Abdulkarim al-Khodr.

For further information, please see:

Human Rights Watch – Saudi Arabia: End Prosecution of Human Rights Lawyer – 20 April 2013

Fars News Agency – HRW Slams Saudi Arabia for Prosecuting Lawyer – 20 April 2013

Gulf Center for Human Rights – Saudi Arabia – Human Rights Defenders Face Judicial Harassment After They Become Targets of the Authorities – 25 February 2013

Al Akhbar – Saudi Human Rights Lawyer Charged – 6 June 2012

Provincial Elections to be Held in Iraq Today

By Justin Dorman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Many Iraqi provincial elections will be held today. Hopefully no more people will be murdered in the process. In the days preceding today’s elections, many were killed, both candidate and civilian.

On April 20th provincial elections will be held in Iraq. Many individuals have been killed in the build up to this day. (Photo Courtesy of the Guardian)

Late Thursday night, at approximately 9:30pm,  a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded Baghdad cafe on the third floor of a Sunni neighborhood in Amiriyah. Many young people congregated to play pool and smoke hookah not knowing that it would be their last pocket called or smoke ring blown. Approximately thirty-two individuals were killed, and more than fifty individuals were injured.

Earlier that day, an armed convoy in Mosul was attacked. A car bomb ultimately killed three soldiers and wounded five others. Also that day, a policeman was gunned down at a security checkpoint in western Baghdad. Three others were injured in the process.

A few days earlier, on April 14th, Sunni politicians were assassinated in Diyala and Saladin. Najem al-Harbi, a candidate for the Dialogue Front in the Diyala election, along with his two brothers and son were murdered in an ambush in Baqouba. The Dialogue Front which is led by Saleh al-Mutlaq, is seen as a group of political dissidents by Ayad Allawi. Harbi was imprisoned for the past couple of years on charges of terrorism. Nevertheless, he received the highest number of votes during the parliamentary elections while he was still in prison.

In Saladin, a Sunni candidate of the al-Ensaf Front was shot and killed a few hours after the special army and police ballot voting was finished. Sarhan was passing through the market in Baiji when silenced guns shot him down in a drive by.

An additional attempt was made on another Sunni politician in Baqouba when a roadside bomb was set off. The politician lived and only two of his bodyguards were wounded.

No one knows who the perpetrators are of these killings. It is unknown as to whether these are the acts of separate individuals or a group plotting together. This may be the work of those who oppose Prime Minister Maliki, as these Sunni politicians were known to be allies of his. These killings could have also ben committed by extremist Shiites or even al-Qaeda trying to cause sectarian disputes between Iraqis.

For further information, please see:

Al Jazeera – Dozens Killed in Baghdad Cafe Explosion – 19 April 2013

International Business Times – Death Toll in Baghdad Cafe Rises to 32 as Iraq Gears to Face Provincial Elections on April 20 – 19 April 2013

Guardian – Baghdad Suicide Bomb Causes Carnage – 18 April 2013

Al Monitor – Iraqi Provincial Elections Bring Wave of Violence, Assassination – 17 April 2013

 

SNHR Casualties Report: Friday, 19 April 2013

Syrian network for human rights documented 125 victims , Friday  19/4/2013 all across Syria,  including 31 children, 12 ladies , 1 tortured to death, and 18 armed rebels.

19 victims in a massacre in Derbaalbh/Homs ( 9 children , 5 women ) executed by Syrian government’s troops at a checkpoint during an attempt to displace them.

Damascus and countryside : 58 victims
Homs : 22 victims
Idlib : 21 victims
Aleppo : 11 victims
Daraa : 4 victims
Dier Alzoor : 3 victims
Hasaka : 2 victims
Qunaitra : 2 victims

SNHR Casualties Report: Thursday, 18 April 2013

Syrian network for human rights documented 89 victims , Thursday  18/4/2013 all across Syria,  including 11 children, 7 ladies , 1 tortured to death , 40 armed rebels
Damascus and countryside : 40 victims
Homs : 10 victim
Daraa : 4 victims
Dier Alzoor : 7 victims
Aleppo : 15 victims
Idlib : 7 victims
Hama : 3 victims
Raqqa : 3 victims
========================================
Damascus and countryside : 40 victims , 3 children , 3 ladies:
1-Basheer Sheikh Yazina – shelling on Doma
2-Noor Koaidr – shelling on Moazamiat Alsham
3-Khalil Anis Rajab – shelling on Moazamiat Alsham
4-Hasan Abo Adel – armed rebel – clashes in Daria
5-Rateb Abo Alabed – armed rebel – clashes in Daria
6- Ayman Abo Walid – armed rebel – clashes in Daria
7- Jamal Abo Jihad – armed rebel – clashes in Daria
8- Jamal Abo Ali – armed rebel – clashes in Moazamiat Alshamhttp://bit.ly/XIeN1Y
9- Dawood Toami – shelling on Tijara in 17-4-2013
10- Nidal Noor Aldin – shelling on Dierkhaiba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btc4x_9qr64
11- Mohamad Alsaid – shelling on Dierkhaiba
12- Aref Dawood – armed rebel – in 17-4-2013 cause shelling on Jobar
13- Khaled Abo Walid – shelling on Moazamiat Alsham
14- Ziad Saada – shelling on Moazamiat Alsham
15- Mohanad ( unknown surname ) armed rebel – clashes
16- Girl child Aesha Almlih – shelling on Doma
17- Child Zaid Kador – 3 years old – shelling on Abada
18- Ahmad Abdulwahab – shelling on Doma
19- Yahia Alkalbi – armed rebel – clashes in 17-3-2013
20- Nabel Bilal – armed rebel – clashes in 17-3-2013
21- Ahmad Awad – armed rebel – clashes in 17-3-2013
22- Abo Kasem Alakla – armed rebel – clashes in 17-3-2013
23- Abdulrazak Ahmad – shelling
24- Mohanad Nasr – armed rebel – clashes
25- Ali Diab – armed rebel – clashes
26- Yaser Ramadan – Palestinian – shelling on Khan Alshikh refugee camp
27- Ammar Abo Ahmad – armed rebel – clashes
28- Mahmod Alsalem – shelling on Doma
29- Omran Zaghfan – shelling on Doma
30- Saleh Bakdash – shelling on Ain Tarma
31- Fakhri Shabrak – shelling on Jdidt Alartoz
32- Alaa Khmis shelling on Jdidt Alartoz
33- Basam Mosa – shelling on Jdidt Alartoz
34- Ghasan Khalaf – shelling on Jdidt Alartoz
35- Ibrahim Salama – shelling on Jdidt Alartoz
36- Unknown female victim- mother of Ibrahim Salama – shelling on Jdidt Alartoz
37- Unknown female victim- nice of Ibrahim Salama – shelling on Jdidt Alartoz
38- Loai Shawiti – – shelling on Jdidt Alartoz
39- Mansor Allahibi – shelling on Jdidt Alartoz
40 – child Mohamad Ibrahim Hamad – 17 years old –executed by Syrian government’s troops
==========================================================
Aleppo: 15 victims , 4 children:
1-Omar Alwafi – armed rebel – clashes
2-Husani Abdulghani – armed rebel – clashes
3-child Mostafa Hamod – sniper bullet in his head from unknown side in Hanano buildings
4- Girl child Yosra Hwt – 8 years old – shelling on Tayara village
5- Ahmad Khalil – armed rebel – clashes
6- Unknown girl child – Scud missile on Eazaz
7- Adel Beshaa – shelling on Salhen near Jilani mosque
8- Unknown name – armed rebel – clashes with Shabiha
9- Unknown girl child – shelling on Adnan
10 Basam Alafandi – armed rebel – clashes
11- Ibrahim Alshaer – shelling on Scientific research centre
12- Ahmad Jawish – armed rebel – clashes
13- Mohamad Naif – armed rebel – clashes
14- Basam Othman shelling on Salhen neighborhood
15- Mohamad Sultn – sniper bullet in Sukari neighborhood
========================================
Idilb 7 vicitms :
1-Thaer Alyousef – armed rebel – clashes
2-Mohamad Zakaria – armed rebel – clashes
3- Unknown name – armed rebel – clashes
4-Mohamad Abdulwahab – armed rebel – clashes
5- Abo Alkakaa Altonsi –  from Tunisia – armed rebel – clashes
6- Unknown name – from Azerbajjan – armed rebel – clashes
7- Khamis Alaswad – 65 years old – shelling on Tabaka
========================================
Homs : 10 victims : 3 children , 1 tortured to death:
1-Jarah Alkhaled – armed rebel – clashes
2-Omar Idris – armed rebel – clashes
3-Firas Arnos – armed rebel – clashes
4- Ahmad Bozan – armed rebel – clashes
5-Mohamad Ali Alrahal – activist – tortured to death after he has been arrested for 1 year
6-Abdulkarim Aldikh – shelling on Talbesa
7- child Yasin Aldikh – shelling on Talbesa
8- child Abdulkarim Aldikh – shelling on Talbesa
9- Girl child Aesha Aldikh – shelling on Talbesa
10- Maher Alhazaa – armed rebel – clashes
===========================================
Dier Alzoor : 7 victims, 4 ladies:
1-Ms. Shaimaa Alaisa – shelling
2-Ms. Amina Almerai – shelling
3- Abdo Albases – shelling
4- Ammar Alali – shelling
5- Ms. Shaimaa Alhamada – shelling
6- Ms. Ghasa Alhilal – shelling
7- Akaram Alawisa – armed rebel – clashes
===========================================
Daraa : 4 killed:
1-Mazen Alajan – armed rebel – clashes
2-Tareq Alshiblak – armed rebel – clashes
3- Ismael Akasha – armed rebel – clashes
4- Mohamad Bilal Alhariri – armed rebel – clashes
===========================================
Hama : 3 victims:
1-Alaa Alaror – armed rebel – clashes
2-Mahomd Alshami –dissident solider – clashes
3-Unknown name ( Alhalak family ) – Alassad troops bullets
===========================================
Raqqa : 3 victims:
1-Osama Alkano – armed rebel – clashes
2- Dr. Waed Husain Swaid – shelling
3-
 
===========================================
SNHR also documented:
1-Jomaa Mostafa Almostafa – 99 years old – his body has been pulled out from the road between Sakhour and Midan neighborhoods / Aleppo in 16-4-2013
2- Ammar son of Mofid – sniper bullet in Shikh Khudur / Aleppo , he was killed by a sniper three months ago until today they were able to pulled out his body and buried him
3-Alaa Dali -24 years old – sniper bullet in Karam Albek / Aleppo , he was killed by a sniper four days ago until today they were able to pulled out his body

Russian Interior Ministry Seeks Arrest Warrant for Bill Browder

By Alexandra Sandacz
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe

MOSCOW, Russia – The Russian Interior Ministry recently announced their intent to seek an arrest warrant for Bill Browder, CEO of Hermitage Capital Management. The arrest warrant regards charges of “stealing” energy company, Gazprom, shares a decade ago and “interfering” in Gazprom’s policies.

However, this case has no legal basis because there were never any crim­i­nal sanc­tions for own­ing Gazprom shares.

Browder, who once led the biggest foreign investment fund in Russia, quarrels with the Russian government amidst his campaign to blacklist Russian officials involved in the death of Hermitage lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky.

Jamison Firestone, Magnitsky’s former boss and a close associate of Browder in lobbying for the blacklists, stated, “This is a pure vendetta and everyone knows it. If it was really illegal to buy Gazprom, every Western hedge fund manager in Moscow would already be on the way to the airport.”

Another Hermitage Capital representative said, “The retroactive and arbitrary application to one market participant of a criminal standard in relation to a practice that is considered lawful for all other market participants is the hallmark of a politically-directed abuse of justice in this case.”

Furthermore, “President Putin treats the law and the truth like a child in a sand­box. There are no rules. There is no law, and he thinks he can do whatever he wants. This may be true in Russia, but it is not true elsewhere in the world.”

The Interior Ministry affirmed that if Browder’s arrest is endorsed, he will subsequently be placed on the international wanted list.

The Interior Ministry continued, “As the accused Browder is evading arriving for investigative procedures, even though he has been notified about this necessity using various methods, the investigation has filed a request with a court on considering his arrest in absentia as a pretrial restrictive measure. If a court grants this request, the mechanism of declaring Browder internationally wanted will be launched.”

Hermitage Capital Management stated that the warrant “follows a coordinated Russian state propaganda campaign in the last three months, where all Kremlin-controlled TV channels, including NTV, Rossiya, and 1TV ran slanderous programs accusing Mr. Browder of murders, stealing IMF money in 1998, causing the Russian default, stealing Gazprom shares, and being a UK spy.”

Nevertheless, the Moscow court refused to issue the warrant because Mr. Browder was not given enough warning about the proceeding. The Russian Criminal Procedure Code states that arrests cannot be ordered for a person before he or she is declared internationally wanted.

The court will review the request again in a week.

This will be the second known case of an ‘in absentia arrest warrant’ concerning a Westerner in Russia.

For further information, please see:

Law and Order In Russia – Russia Interior Ministry Seeks Arrest Warrant for Bill Browder in Putin-directed Retaliation Against Magnitsky List – 17 April 2013

The Moscow Times – Browder Placed on International Wanted List – 17 April 2013

Russia Beyond the Headlines – Russia Seeks Arrest in Absentia for Magnitsky Boss Browder – 17 April 2013

The Telegraph – Russia Puts Hermitage Boss Bill Browder on Wanted List – 17 April 2013